HC Deb 26 October 1984 vol 65 c757W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many pedestrians were killed in road traffic accidents for each of the years 1973 to 1983 where the driver of the vehicle was shown to have a blood alcohol level above the legal limit;

(2) how many pedestrians were injured in road traffic accidents for each of the years 1973 to 1983 where the driver of the vehicle was shown to have a blood alcohol level above the legal limit.

Mrs. Chalker

The result of and initial breath test is recorded on the accident report forms, but not the blood alcohol level. The numbers of pedestrians killed and injured in road traffic accidents where the driver of the vehicle hitting the pedestrians "failed" a breath test—that is, failed to provide a sample or the sample gave a positive result—are shown below.

Pedestrians hit by vehicles whose drivers failed a breath test, Great Britain
Killed Injured Total
1979 167 1268 1435
1980 160 1099 1259
1981 150 944 1094
1982 126 1054 1180
1983 109 1077 1186

Further years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Additionally, there are a few accidents each year involving two or more vehicles where the driver of the vehicle hitting the pedestrian passed the test or was not tested, but where the driver of another vehicle failed. In 1983, four pedestrians were killed and 242 injured in such accidents.